Michael Glantz, a senior talent agent with the Creative Artists Agency, became an internet sensation after a video showed him calmly eating his salad during the chaotic aftermath of a shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Washington Hilton hotel, where gunfire rang out and heavily armed Secret Service agents swarmed into the ballroom.
The video clip captured Glantz leisurely forking leaves from his burrata salad into his mouth against a backdrop of a stage that had been cleared, save for a rifle-wielding officer in tactical combat gear. Glantz, a New Yorker, told the New York Times that he was not scared and wanted to watch the unfolding events.
Glantz's Reaction to the Chaos
In a brief interview, Glantz explained his composure: "We live with sirens and activity happening all the time. I wasn't scared. There are hundreds of Secret Service agents hurtling themselves over tables and chairs, and I wanted to watch." He also noted that he could not get on the floor due to a bad back and his aversion to dirty surfaces. "There was no freaking way I was getting in my new tux on the dirty Hilton floor," he said.
Social Media Sensation
By Monday, the hashtag #saladman was trending on social media as Glantz's coolness under pressure gained widespread recognition. The original video was reposted by CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter. Glantz later told TMZ that he found the attention "silly" but did not mind being laughed at.
Other guests also drew attention for their actions after the shooting. An unidentified woman was seen taking two unopened bottles of champagne from a table, while another attendee took a selfie with a bottle of champagne in the background.
